An undefeated UFC featherweight contender recently voiced his opinion about a fight against Islam Makhachev. The 19-0 pro-MMA record-holding fighter considered the consequences of fighting Makhachev and opined he would never lock horns with the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion.
The fighter in discussion cited Makhachev’s lethal skill set as a factor behind his refusal to fight him. However, the 31-year-old also presented another strong reason to avoid fighting Makhachev.
Undefeated UFC Featherweight Labeled Islam Makhachev His Brother
The undefeated UFC featherweight in the conversation here is Movsar Evloev, who also holds a 9-0 UFC record besides being 19-0 in his pro-MMA career. Evloev had his last encounter at UFC 310 against the former bantamweight king-turned-featherweight, Aljamain Sterling. The Russian eventually managed to get his hand raised via unanimous decision at the end of three intensely contested rounds of fighting.
Evloev is currently on the hunt for a shot at the featherweight gold on account of his dominant run in the promotion. However, he received a completely out-of-the-box question during his appearance in a recent episode of the “Overdogs Podcast with Mike Perry.”
One of Perry’s co-hosts put Evloev in an imaginary scenario in which he had already defended the featherweight title three times. Subsequently, he asked the 31-year-old if he would consider moving up to lightweight and challenge Makhachev for a title fight in those circumstances.
Evloev may have refrained from providing a direct answer to the question, but his words were enough to make it clear that he would prefer to continue fighting at featherweight instead of locking horns with Makahachev for the Lightweight Championship.
The 31-year-old rated the reigning lightweight king capable enough to “kill” him in a fight. Evloev said, “This guy [Islam Makhachev] can kill me.”
The Russian featherweight also presented another strong reason to justify his refusal to fight the Dagestani. Evloev labeled Makhachev his “older brother” and said, “Because he [Makhachev] is my older brother, I’m never gonna fight him.”
Perry’s podcast co-host also compared the brotherly relationship between Evloev and Makhachev to the strong bond of friendship between the reigning bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili and Sterling. It’s pertinent to note that Dvalishvili and Sterling never fought each other on account of their friendship, despite fighting in the same division for a prolonged span.
This comparison had Evloev giving his two cents about promotional authorities pitting two fighters against each other who share a friendly relationship. Makhachev’s Russian compatriot voiced his distaste for such encounters, stating that fighters with friendly interpersonal relationships should never be made to fight just for fan appeasement.
He said, “People [always] want to see the fights of big-level guys. [But] when they are close to each other, when they are brothers, I don’t think it’s a good idea to make them face [each other in a fight.]”